Target.



No, 799,697. PATBNTED SEPT. 19, 1905.

W. G. WEBB 6: J. HALL.

TARGET.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.18, 1905.

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No. 799,697. PATENTED SEPT. 19, 1905. W. W. G. WEBB & J. HALL. TARGET.

APPLIOLTION FILED JAN. 18, 1905.

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No. 799,697. PATENTED SEPT. 19, 1905.

Y W. W. G. WEBB & J. HALL.

TARGET.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18, 1905.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W715 manna/( W6 50W Ian/M No. 799,697. PATENTED SEPT. 19, 1905.

W. W. G. WEBB & J. HALL.

TARGET.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18, 1905.

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PATENTED SEPT; 19, 19.05. W. w. a; WEBB & J. HALL.

TARGET.

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TARGET.

APPLICATION IILBD JAN. 18, 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM WALTER GERALD WEBB, E LEAMINGTON, AND JOHN HALL,

OF ASHBY-DE-LA-ZOUCH, ENGLAND.

TARGET- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 19, 1905.

Application filed January 18, 1905. Serial No. 241,678.

The said guide-pieces f To all whmn it may concern.- -ti 1 t Be it known that we, WILLIAM WALTER serve to maintain the segments in correct re- GERALD WEBB, residing at Creeba, 6 Union lation with each other. For the circular bullsroad, Leamington, in the county of Warwick, eye no guide-pieces are necessary. To return and JOHN HALL, residing at the Manor House, the segments to theiroriginal position after Overseal, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, in the county recession under the impact of a bullet, a spiral of Leicester, England, subjects of the King spring 9 is provided around a reduced rear of Great Britain, have invented certain newportion of each plunger 6 and arranged to and useful Improvements Relating to Targets, abut against the plate d. The plate 0 is car- IO of which the following is a specification. ried. at a suitable distance in front of the plate This invention relates to targets for rifle d by means of connecting-pieces It. The segand other ranges, and has for its object to proments a are preferably so disposed, as shown vide for the automatic displayal and recordat Fig. 2, that their front faces are not all in ing of the scores made by the marksman and the same plane in order to prevent binding I 5 the frequency with which the target has been together of adjacent segments by bullets strikstruck during any required interval of time. ing the division-lines between them. In con- The invention comprises the employment junction with the rear extremity of each plunof a target constructed from independent secger is arranged an electric switch comprising tions or striking elements, each of which is a fixed contact-piece c' and a movable spring- 20 adapted to recede or recoil under the impact like contact-piecej. The said contact-piece j 7: of a bullet, and the combination with the said is normally retained against its spring action target of electrically-actuated automatic sigout of contact with the piece 2' by means of naling and recording apparatus arranged for an adjustable nut or collar it on the plunger 6. operation with the recession or recoil of the After a segment has been struck and during 2 5 target-sections. its consequent recession the contact-piece j Referring to the six accompanying sheets of the corresponding switch is permitted to of explanatory drawings, Figure l is a front engage the piece 1', and thereby complete a elevation, and Fig. 2 aside elevation, of a tarcircuit through electric signaling and recordget constructed in accordance with this invening apparatus,as hereinafter described. With 30 tion. While Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the the said arrangement of the fixed and movable 8c same. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of our aucontact-pieces a reliable and sensitive switch tomatic signaling and recording apparatus. is obtained. A small movement of the corre- Fig. 5 is a similar view with the cover-plate sponding target-segment under the influence removed; and Fig. 6, a cross-section on the of a slight impact suflices to close the switch,

3 5 line A B, Fig. 4. Fig. 7 illustrates to a larger while a large movement under a heavy imscale than Figs. 5 and 6 one of the electricpact causes no damage thereto. Moreover, ally-actuated signaling elements. as by the said arrangement of contact-pieces The same reference charactersin the differthe same remain in engagement during an apent views indicate the same or similar parts. preciable interval of the time occupied by the 40 The target as shown by Figs. 1, 2, and 3 is recoil movements of the target-segments re- V constructed from a number of segments or liable operation of the recording mechanism striking elements a, mounted concentrically is insured. Each switch isconnected,bymeans around a bulls-eyeb. Theoutersegments of conducting-Wires, to a pair of terminals, may either be formed with a circular outline as Z. When the segment resumes its original 45 or a rectangular outline, as shown at Fig. 1. position, under the action of the spring g Each segment at, including the bulls-eye 1), around its plunger 6 the switch is simultaneis carried at a suitable distance in front of a ously opened. v pair of supporting-plates 0 and d by means of The signaling or displayal of the scores a plunger eand a pair of projecting guidemade by the marksman is automatically ef- 5 pieces f, which pass through the frontsupfected by electrically-actuated mechanism 1 connected with the target-segments. In each of the circuits passing through the targetswitches is arranged an electromagnet m, Figs. 5, 6, and 7, adapted to release a catch, as n, of a counterpoised disk 0, bearing an appropriate number or other distinguishing device, and to so move or cause the said disk 0 to drop into position behind a sight-aperture in the front 9 of an inclosing casing q, Where the number or device can be readily seen. One electromagnet, as on, with a catch a and display-disk 0, may be employed for each ring of segments, the separate segments being united to the same circuit; but preferably an independent magnet, catch, and disk are employed for each segment, as illustrated. Each of the electromagnets is connected in any suitable manner to a pair of terminals, as 0'. The electromagnets can be actuated or excited from batteries 8, arranged compactly within the base of the inclosing casing. Any other source of electrical energy may, however, be utilized. The display-disks 0 are so counterpoised that they remain in coincidence with their respective sight-apertures after the circuits through their magnets have been interrupted. For restoring the disks to their original or out-of-service position a number of trip-pieces t are provided upon a sliding frame a, which is actuated by an external handle n. The said trip-pieces are arranged to engage lever-like projections 20 from the disks. By inwardly pressing the handle '0, and thereby sliding the frame a, the disks 0 are raised to their initial position, where they are retained by the aforesaid catches a.

For recording the number of times the target has been struck a dial w, having its face suitably divided, is employed in conjunction with the display mechanism. The finger of the dial is connected to a gear or ratchet wheel y, which is intermittently rotated by a pawl z, operated by an electromagnet 1. All the segments a of the target may be arranged or wired so that any one of them when struck by a bullet will complete the circuit through the said magnet 1, and thus excite the latter and cause it to advance the finger of the dial through one division; but the advance of the dial-finger may also be obtained by means of a trip-piece 2, mounted on the aforesaid sliding frame a and adapted to operate the pawl 2.

We also employ an electric gong 3 in connection With the target-segments for the purpose of giving audible signals when the target has been struck.

The display or signaling and recording mechanism aforesaid are mounted Within the inclosing casing g, which may be situated in any desired position upon the range. Connection between the target and the display and recording mechanism is effected by a cable containing the requisite number of wires and provided at each extremity with plugterminals 4, capable of being readily inserted Within the terminals l and 1.

For the purpose of providing the marksman with a record or pattern of his shooting we arrange for the support of disks or tablets, as 5, of cardboard or other penetrable material in front of the target. The face of the disk is divided into rings corresponding with the rings of target-segments, so that the perforations formed by the bullets in the said disk afford accurate records or patterns of his shooting. The card is carried by a pair of supports 6, sustained at the required position in front of the target by brackets or projecting members '7, secured to the framework of the target. The position of the supports 6 can be adjusted by means of screws 8, capable of sliding within slots formed in the said members 7 Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In targets, the combination comprising a spring-controlled striking element adapted to recede or recoil under the impact of a bullet, a plunger united with the said striking element, an electric switch held open by the plunger when the latter is at rest and automatically closed during the recoil movements of the plunger, and electrical signaling apparatus having its circuit completed by the said switch, substantially as set forth.

2. In targets, the combination comprising a striking element adapted to recede or recoil under the impact of a bullet, a plunger united with the said striking element, supportingplates and an adjustable collar for the said plunger, a spring arranged with the plunger, an electric switch maintained in the open position by the said adjustable collar when the plunger is at rest and automatically closed during the recoil movements of the plunger, and an electrical signaling device having its circuit completed by the said switch, substantially as described.

3. In targets, the combination comprising spring-controlled striking elements adapted to recede or recoil under the impact of bullets, plungers united with the said elements electric switches held open by the plungers when the latter are at rest and automatically closed during the recoil movements of the plungers, electrical signaling apparatus having its circuits completed by the said switches, and means for recording the number of target-hits, substantially as described.

4. 1n targets, the combination comprising spring-controlled striking elements adapted to recede or recoil under the impact of bullets, plungers united with the said elements, electric switches held open by the plungers and automatically closed during the recoil movements of the plungers, automatic signal- I names to this specification in the presence of ing apparatus arranged in electrical connectwo subscribing Witnesses. tion with the said striking elements, a d1sk or WILLIAM WALTER GERALD WEBB. tablet 0t penetrable material arranged in tront JOHN H U11 5 of the striking elements, and adjustable supports for the said disk, or tablet, substantially Witnesses: as set forth. EDWARD MARKs, In testimony whereof we have signed our JOHN MORGAN. 

